Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that damages the eyes The condition is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (the retina).
Initially, diabetic retinopathy may be asymptomatic or mild. Eventually, the condition can lead to blindness The longer a patient has diabetes and the less control they have over their blood sugar, the greater the chance of eye damage.
Over time, high blood sugar can cause the small blood vessels that feed the retina to constrict, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the retina. To regulate this process, the eye tries to form new blood vessels However, newly formed blood vessels do not form properly and are characterized by leakage
There are two forms of diabetic retinopathy:
- Early diabetic retinopathy This is the more common form, it is also called non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy In this case, new blood vessels are not formed
When a patient has nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, the blood vessels in their retina weaken. Small bulges (microaneurysms) form in the walls of small blood vessels, causing blood and fluid to leak into the retina. Larger retinal blood vessels begin to dilate and become irregular in diameter Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy can be mild or severe Manifestation depends on the number of damaged blood vessels
The nerve fibers in the retina begin to penetrate Sometimes, the central part of the retina darkens This condition requires treatment - Advanced diabetic retinopathy Diabetic retinopathy sometimes progresses to a more severe form called proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In this form, the damaged blood vessels constrict and result in the formation of new, abnormal blood vessels in the retina Blood and fluid from these blood vessels drain into the clear, gelatinous substance in the center of the eye (vitreous tissue).
Eventually, the scar tissue that forms behind the newly formed blood vessels can cause the retina to detach from the eye. The new blood vessels sometimes prevent fluid from draining out of the eye, causing the pressure inside the eyeball to increase This process can damage the nerve that carries images from the eye to the brain (the optic nerve). Glaucoma develops as a result
In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, symptoms are sometimes not apparent As the condition progresses, symptoms of diabetic retinopathy may include:
- Dots or dark streaks in the field of vision
- Blurred field of vision
- Shattered vision
- Incorrect color perception
- Dark or blank areas of vision
When to consult a doctor
Careful management of diabetes is the most effective way to avoid vision loss. If you have diabetes, be sure to see your doctor for an eye exam, even if you don't have vision problems. Pregnancy can make diabetic retinopathy worse In case of pregnancy, the doctor may recommend additional eye examinations during pregnancy
See an ophthalmologist if your field of vision suddenly changes, becomes blurry, spotty, or cloudy.
